SmarterTravel Spotlight: Hotel Viking Newport, Rhode Island

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

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A member of the Historic Hotels of America, the Hotel Viking in downtown Newport offers guests chic modern luxury and a taste of the past.

The Location

The hotel is centrally located within downtown Newport, and is within easy walking distance to the town’s main street, waterfront, and all the best restaurants and cafes. Newport’s famous attractions like the Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive are a quick bike ride away, and Hotel Viking has free bikes for guests to borrow. Don’t want to walk or bike? The hotel has a free car service that will take you anywhere you need to go within two miles.

The Rooms

This beautiful brick hotel feels like a small, boutique property, but it actually has 208 well-appointed guestrooms. I stayed in one of the 24 suites available, all of which are individually decorated based on the property’s history. My suite featured a romantic four-poster bed topped with luxe Egyptian cotton linens, a spacious separate sitting room, and a spa-like bathroom.

Dining

Hotel viking hill market cafe — Hotel Viking

Arriving from Boston (a less than two hour drive away, even during rush hour) on a Friday evening, we were greeted with a welcome treat—the hotel’s signature s’mores, which are served every Friday and Saturday evening on the patio.

Although s’mores for dinner sounded delicious, we were tempted into dinner at the hotel’s main restaurant, One Bellevue. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, One Bellevue’s menu features fresh local ingredients, with options to please everyone. I enjoyed a handmade seasonal ravioli made with local squash and truffle brown butter, and my husband loved his perfectly cooked grilled ribeye steak. One Bellevue has an innovative craft cocktail menu as well, so be sure to order one of its signature drinks (like the unique Smoke in the Vineyard with brandy, mezcal, amaro del etna and agave).

For something a bit more casual, Hotel Viking’s new Hill Market café offers options for a quick breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snack. This modern coffee shop serves up nitro coffee and cold brew on tap, espresso drinks, and drip coffee from cult coffee roaster Stumptown Coffee. Come in for freshly made breakfast sandwiches (from 7 am to 11 am) or swing by any time after 11 for grab-and-go lunch sandwiches and wraps. Sweet treats like croissants, muffins, and cookies are available for a pick-me-up all day, as are made-to-order smoothies like the Viking (acai berry, dates, almond milk, flax seeds, and granola).

The Spa

Spa Fjor feels like a secret refuge within busy Newport. Guests can enjoy the heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, or book in for a relaxing treatment. I adored the spa’s signature Balinese massage, a unique combination of acupressure and traditional massage designed to fully heal tense muscles. Given on a heated massage table with a soundtrack of soft music, the experience will leave you feeling tranquil and stress-free.

Price and How to Book: Rooms start at under $200 per night and can be booked on the Hotel Viking’s website, or compare rates with TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company).

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Caroline Morse Teel was hosted by the Hotel Viking. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for photos from Newport and all around the world.

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